Background: The conditions for crossing bridges specified in permits for special transports are defined as confidential information and mass data for category TL4 under section 24, subsection 10 of the Act on the Openness of Government Activities (621/1999). The underlying objective is to protect critical infrastructure data and ensure that it reaches only those who need it. For this reason, the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency and the Pirkanmaa ELY Centre are updating the special transport permit process for heavy special transport.
Situation regarding permit activities: Changes have been implemented as planned. Experiences of the impacts of the changes on permit activities have accumulated for both permit applicants and authorities. The permit activities will continue in accordance with the previously presented changes. In particular, the processing of permit and pre-decision applications for extremely heavy transport takes time, so the importance of submitting applications early is emphasised.
Queries related to special transport permits: Enquiries related to individual special transport permits must always be handled through the special transport permit system. As a rule, the permit specialists have the best knowledge of the status of pending permits. It is also important to ensure that all information related to the permit is provided to the permit specialist.
Confidential information: Discussions with client companies and charterers in connection with the changes in the special transport permit process have highlighted the impacts of the confidentiality of special transport permit decisions and pre-decisions on the sharing of permit decisions. The confidentiality of decisions is based on route information and any statements contained in the permit. The initial part of the permit until the signature does not contain any confidential information, so it can be distributed more freely to parties deemed necessary. However, the part of the permit after the signature may only be distributed to those parties to whom it is necessary for the transport to be carried out. Pirkanmaa ELY Centre will update the appearance of the decisions to correspond to the aforementioned purpose.
Environmental impact assessment: The environmental impact assessment (EIA) procedure applies to projects that are expected to have significant environmental impacts. As part of the EIA procedure, the transport impacts of the projects will also be examined, for example, with regard to special transport. In cooperation with the ELY Centres, the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency will continue to consider what information and at what level will be necessary to determine and report as part of the EIA procedure regarding the special transport routes. Any changes to existing practices will be announced without delay.
More information:
Jaakko Mattila, Specialist in Business Relationships
[email protected] +358 50 435 7869